'Rumor mill:' Developer denies claims Huntsville subdivision has been abandoned

Huntsville Real-Time NewsA partially built duplex is the home that currently sites in the Summit at Monte Sano development.Scott Turner/AL.comBy Scott Turner | sturner@al.comThe lack of progress on the Summit at Monte Sano development has led residents who live near the proposed subdivision in Huntsville to believe it has been abandoned.Several residents contacted AL.com asking if that has been the case for the development that has been the subject of controversy since it was first proposed years ago. The development is located on property on the south side of Bankhead Parkway and east of Gaslight Way.It’s also been the subject of discussion on neighborhood pages. Some have speculated on the Monte Sano Neighborhood Page that the developer may have run out money.“No idea what you’re speaking of....,” See Forever developer Ben Jackson told AL.com when asked about reports the development had been abandoned.Jackson said Wednesday that ground was about to be broken on three more homes. “Don’t believe the rumor mill,” he said.But in previous conversations with AL.com and email exchanges, Jackson indicated the first of what he had called homes valued upwards to $1.5 million would be built in 2024 and then later in 2025. He said during a 2023 interview the development had 25 prospective buyers.“The release of this very limited and exclusive opportunity is going to occur around the 2025 parade of homes dates,” Jackson said in an email exchange in January 2025.There is also a sign laying behind the empty sales building on the site advertising residences coming “in Summer 2025.”A sign lying on the ground behind the empty sales building on the development advertises homes coming in "Summer 2025."Scott Turner/AL.comAll that is there now is the empty sales building and a partially built and wrapped duplex that residents said have sat for months with little activity. Street and drainage work have also been done on the site.Mark Judge, who lives at the corner of Gaslight Way and Hayley’s Way (the entrance to Summit at Monte Sano), said he occasionally sees someone working at the development, and said there were workers clearing weeds on Wednesday.But no activity could be observed on the site on Thursday.The sales building sits empty at the Summit at Monte Sano development.Scott Turner/AL.comA partially cleared lot.Scott Turner/AL.comThe site appears virtually unchanged from a YouTube update posted by Bo Henderson four months ago.“It appears the developer is waiting for acceptance of the subdivision, which includes the transaction with the Land Trust (land donation), into the city maintenance program,” District 2 City Councilman David Little told AL.com. “One home is underway and sounds like some others are close to starting construction. Homes can be built while the subdivision is waiting to be accepted.”City Communication Director Kelly Schrimsher said she was told by the City Planning Department that everything was moving forward with the development. She referred further questions to the developer.The Huntsville Planning Commission granted final approval as recently as March to 41 lots of the second phase of the development. The Planning Commission and the Huntsville City Council approved Planned Urban Development zoning for the development in 2022 despite opposition from a couple hundred residents who packed former City Hall during the meetings.Entrance to the Summit at Monte Sano at Hayley's Way.Scott Turner/AL.comResidents of adjacent neighborhoods unsuccessfully fought the development being built by Colorado-based See Forever over concerns the development would damage the character of the mountain, cause drainage problems, as well as add to traffic congestion in the neighborhoods.The developer said the homes would fit the nature of the mountain and pledged to donate unused land around the development to the Land Trust of North Alabama.The developer donated 5.6 acres back in 2023 on the east side of Bankhead Parkway, Land Trust Executive Director Marie Bostuck said on Wednesday. Tollgate Greenway goes through that donated land. “No property on the west side of Bankhead has been donated yet, but we’re still working on it,” Bostick said.Construction of the development had contributed to flooding in lower neighborhoods during what city officials called a “100-year flood” event in May 2025. The developer worked to mitigate drainage issues following the event.But residents below the development have still been experiencing some problems with runoff from the development during heavy rainfall.Judge was among residents who experienced problems with runoff in June. “The runoff jumped over the street drain they installed and continued down the hill as it has 13 previous times in a little over a year,” Judge said.He supplied photos of the runoff.Runoff from the Summit at Monte Sano on a street below the development during heavy rainfall in June.Mark Judge photoAnother resident told AL.com there has been significant red mud runoff from the site causing clogged drains and drainpipes in the adjacent Heritage of Monte Sano. She said the city spent a lot of time cleaning out one of them in her yard a few months ago.Little – who represents the area – said it has been a while since he had heard of issues with runoff.“The few times there were runoff issues, the city got with the developer and they addressed them,” he said.Scott Turner covers growth, economic development in the Huntsville area for AL.com and the Huntsville Times. A veteran journalist, his career includes coverage of politics, environmental, military, veteran,...